Subaqueous tunnel.



PATENTED DBG. l, 1903. y

n.13. MUBEVAN. SUBAQUBOUS TUNNEL. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 22, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

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PAT-ENTBB Dml, 1903.

APPLICATION FILED 001222, 19GB.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

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VWne'ss-esf A No. 745,456. MTENTED DB0.- 1, 1903. D. 11. MGBEAN.

y SUBAQUBOUS TUNNEL.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 22, 1903.

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PATENTED DBG. l, 1908.

vD.y D. MGBBAN. SUBAQUEUUS TUNNEL. APPLIGATIONFILED 00T. 22, 19.03;

N01' MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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irc-.realise PATENT Datented December 1, 1903.

Fries.

DUNCAN D. MCBAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters AIE-atent No. 745,456, dated December 1, 1903.

Application filed October 22, 1903. fSerial No. 178,054. (No modell) -I in Subaqueous-Tunnel Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in subaqueous tunnels, particularly of the type in which a metallicenvelopor tube is employed; and it consists in the features of construction and the method of their use hereinafterset forth,

In the construction of tunnels under tidal and other navigable waters it is sometimes a matter ofv great difficulty, if not impossibility, by old methods to secure adequate foundation and support at the. great depth at which it is necessary to locate them. I have successfully solved the problem by employing in the building 0E such tunnels a sub-V aqueous working-chamber erected in place over land around the site or successive seclions of the same, Within which chamber the workl of excavation, laying a requisite foundation, and erecting the structure to completion are carried on.' One form of such chamber, with a removable timber roof, I have successfully used and have described and claimed in a pending application for United States Letters Patent.

The methods and means constituting my present invention are a modiiication of and improvement upon the invention above referred to and are specially adapted for structures under navigable waters Where the roof of the tunnel is so near the body ofwater as to be in danger of injury from the contact therewith of vessels or their anchors and in which a metallic tube or envelop is employed in contradistinction to a structure solely of In my present invention the site or course of the tunnel is dredged out to a depth slightly below the level of the roof of the proposed tunnel. Across and throughout this preliminary excavation I then `drive piles either to bed-rock or to such'depth as will insure adequate support and anchorage. These piles are then sawed .ed in a plane slightly below the spring ofl the arch of the proposed tunnel. Transversely upon the tops of the piles are then secured cap-timbers y ofsuitable dimensions for the purposes hereinafter described, the piles being also stayed and strengthened by suitable bracings. I then form a framework of brace-timbers arranged transversely of the channel connected at their ends by laterally-spaced horizontal timbers termed inner.`and outer walings and other timbers longitudinal of the channel secured upon the tops of these bracetimbers and preferably shimmed or slightly spaced therefrom. These last-named longitudinal timbers serve as hangers, by means of which the entire frame may be lowered upon the cap-timbers of the piles, after which it maybe adjusted laterally as a whole into proper alinement. Sheetings or rectangular piles made up of sawed timber are then driven between 'the walings of the frame, which serve as guides therefor along the sides Yof the excavation,which sheeting is also driven either to bed-rock or to a requisite depth in the other material. The tops of the sheeting are then sawed off in a plane sufficiently above the tops of the intermediate` piles for the purposes hereinafter described. I also construct upon a float orl other support the top segment of the metallic tube of the tunnel, which is to serve as the roof of the working-chamber, suitably staying and strengthenin'g it by cross-timbers and then lowering it into place, so that its cross-timbers shall bear upon the longitudinal timbers of the frame, which are carried in turn upon the cap-pieces of the piles, while lthe sides of the roof are supported directly upon the sheeting walls along the sides of the channel. The ends of the roof-section are suitably closed in and adapted to rest upon cross-bulkheads, whereby the side walls and bulkheads of sheeting 4'and the superposed roof constitute an impervious subaqueous chamber. This chamber is then unwatered, air being forced in under pressure, the material excavated to the required depth, and the tubes completed and embedded in and supported upon masonry foundation.

In the accompanying' drawings, forming part of this specification, igure 1 is a crosssectional elevation of the working-chamber ready for the commencement of excavation. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the framework in roc place, showing the sheeting partially driven. Fig. et is a detail showing the piles with their caps and the waliugs and longitudinal timbers of the framework. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail of the framework, showing the tie-rods, the piles being removed. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the manner in which the tunnel-tubes are supported upon sheeting where an intermediate space is arranged for an envelop of concrete, and Fig. 7 is a crosssection of the tunnel completed.

In the drawings, 2 represents the body of water; 3, the bottom, and 4 the sloping sides, of the preliminary excavation formed by dredging; 5, the series of piles driven into the bed of the same, and 6 their caps, which are slightly shorter than the width of the proposed tunnel. .The framework A, supported upon these piles, is made up of the brace-timbers 7, the ends of which are connected longitudinally of the channel by inner walings 8 and outer walings 9, interspaced sufficiently to serve as guides for the driving of sheeting, as hereinafter described. The framework is also provided with longitudinal timbers 10, arranged on top of the timbers 7 and slightly raised above the same by shims 11, lthe timbers 10 being so arranged as when the framework is in place to stand immediately above the lines of piles 5. Suitable strengthening-plates 12 are employed to strengthen the connection between the timbers 7 and the inner walings 8. The framework thus constructed is then lowered into place and suspended upon the piles 5. By means of suitable drivers upon a platform or oat (not shown) I then drive sheeting 13 along the sides of the channel and between the walings 8 and 9, which serve as guides therefor, constituting impervious side walls. These walls are then sawed off in a plane parallel with but slightly above that of the tops of the piles. Upon a float or other suitable support I then form the roof or upper portion B of the tunnel-tubes. In the drawings the roof is shown for a double-tube tunnel. This roof is made up of sections 14, having longitudinally-extending flanges 15 and circumferential flanges 16. Between the two tubes I arrange a diaphragm C, in which the sections have a central web 17, with longitudinal flanges 18 and vertical flanges 19. This roof preferably constitutes about halt' of the complete tube. p by heavy cross-timbers 20, having a footing for their ends in the spaces in the lower sections of the roof, being therein secured by bolts 21 through the circumferential flanges of the sections. The roof is strengthened and held from lateral spreading or distortion by suitable tie-rods 22. On the outside of the lower tiers of the sections 14E I form, preferably, a lateral flange 23, having suitable strengthening braces or lugs 24. The position of the timbers 2O and the flanges 23 is such that when the roof is lowered in place the timbers rest upon the timbers 10 of the It is preferably laterally bracedframework A, while the flanges are seated upon the tops of the sheeting walls C. Any suitable means for` strengthening the supports'and anchorages of the roof may be employed, such as interposing between the sheeting walls and the flange 23 plates 25, projecting beyond the walings 9 and interposiug between the flanges and the walings timbers or blocks 26, placing on the outer face of the blocks 26 and the under face of. the projecting edge of the plates 25 angle-irons 27, secured to the plates by bolts 28. The inner edge of the plates 25 have, preferably, a vertical flange 20, to be engaged by the flange 23 of the tunnel-sections. Suitable drift-bolts 30 serve to secure the flange 23 and plates 25 to the sheeting walls. The structure is further strengthened by bolts 31, passing through the inner and outer walings and intermediate sheeting wall on each side and intermediately connected by tie-rods 32. This construction isemployed where the tunneltubes are withoutamasonry envelop. In cases requiring such envelop the sheeting walls must be set farther apart, as shown in Fig. 6, allowing a space between them and the tunnel-tube to receive the masonry. In this case I suspend the roof upon the sheeting walls by suitable hangers 33, formed upon the periphery of the tube. The ends of the roof are temporarily closed by end plates or bulkheads resting upon the sheeting wall bulkheads 35. After the working-chamber is completed the water is pumped out of the same and air forced in under pressure. rIhe earth is then excavated down to the required depth, sections of the tunnel-tube being added as the work progresses. When the excavation has reached the necessary depth, a foundation 3b', of concrete or other masonry, is laid in place, the top being conformed to the shape of the tubesto be seated therein. The piles are then cut off even with the surface and the tubes completed, as shown in Fig. 7. The interior of the tubes can then be fitted with tracks or other structures, according to the use to which the tunnel is to be subjected.

I claim- 1. In tunnel construction, a subaqueous working-chamber, comprising the tunnel roof and walls surrounding the site. Y

2. In tunnel construction, a subaqueous working-chamber formed by the roof of the tunnel and walls extending downward below the bottom of the structure to be built.

3. In tunnel construction, a subaqueous working-chamber having a roof consisting of a section of the upper portion of the tunneltube, supported by fixed walls within which the lower part of such tunnel-section may be constructed.

4. In tunnel construction, a fixed subaqueous working-chamber covering and inclosing the site or a cross-sectional portion thereof, a section of the upper portion of the tunneltube constituting the roof thereof and the walls thereof being seated upon bed-rock or ICO extending to a suticient depth in other material to prevent lateral inflow during the Work of excavation.

5. In tunnel construction, a subaqueons working-chamber, comprising sheeting side walls extending downward to bed-rock or at least as deep as the bottom of the iinished tunnel, and the tunnel-roof supported thereon in permanent position.

6. In tunnel construction, a subaqueous workingchamber, comprising impervious side Walls, extending downward to bed-rock or to a depth below the bottom of the proposed tunnel, and the tunnel-roof supported thereon in permanent position.

7. In tunnei construction, the combination of a series of piles in the tunnel site, sheeting walls along the sides of the site, a framework supported on said piles and laterally supporting said sheeting walls, and the tunnel-roof seated upon said piles and sheeting Walls.

S. In subaqueous tunnel construction, means whereby the roof of the tunnel or sections thereof may be constructed and seated in permanent position, and the underlying material afterward excavated and the balance of the tunnel structure built in place in the excavated space.

9. The method of tunnel construction, which-consists in erecting fixed walls inclosing the site, constructing a section of the uprper portion of the tunnel-tube out of place, then seating the same upon said walls in permanent position, to form therewith a sub-- aqueous chamber, then forcing air into said chamber and expelling the water therefrom and then completing the construction ot' the tunnel within the same.

10. The method of constructing a tunnel under water, consisting in constructing the tunnel-roof ora section thereof out of place,

water, consisting in rst'setting along the sides of the site impervious side walls extending downward to bed-rock or below the bottom of the tunnel when completed, then seating thereon the previously-constructed roof in permanent position to form a Working-chamber, then unwatering the chamber, then excavating the included material and completing the tunnel.

12. The method of constructing a tunnel under water consisting in erecting impervions walls around the site, constructing the tunnel-roof out of place and seating it upon said walls in perlnanent posi-tion, forcing air into the chamber thus formed and expelling the watertherefrom, then excavating the requisite materialvand completing the tunnel structure within the same While maintaining said air-pressure.

13. The method of building aptunnel under water, consisting in rst constructing the tunnel-roof out of place, erecting impervious walls around the site extending .to a depth equal to that of the tunnel when complete, seating the roof in permanent position on said walls to form a subaqueous workingchamber, unwatering the chamber and forcing air thereinto under pressure, and excavating the site and completing the tunnel therein.

14. The method of building a tunnel under water, consisting in driving foundation-piles along the site, and impervious sectional walls anound the same to bed-rock or to a depth lower than the bottom of the tunnel or its -foundation when completed, then cutting 0E 

